2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Honda CR-V

The 2025 Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V represent two leading options in the compact SUV market, with both vehicles offering compelling features for different types of buyers. Starting at $29,810, the 2025 Subaru Forester offers competitive pricing compared to the Honda CR-V’s $30,100 base MSRP. Both vehicles maintain strong reliability ratings and provide comprehensive safety features, making them popular choices for families and daily commuters alike. To help you decide which one best meets your needs in Fort Worth, Texas, check out our car comparison by features.

Engine and Efficiency

Let’s start our comparison by checking out the Honda CR-V vs. Subaru Forester specs. The 2025 Honda CR-V offers a choice between a 1.5L turbocharged I-4 engine and a two-motor hybrid with an I-4 engine. In comparison, the 2025 Subaru Forester features a 2.5L SUBARU BOXER four-cylinder engine that’s standard across the trim levels. The Honda CR-V’s slightly higher power output translates to marginally better acceleration, while the Forester’s Boxer engine design provides a lower center of gravity for improved handling characteristics. The Subaru Forester offers a well-rounded and balanced ride quality. It stands out with its standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, which enables it to take on various road and weather conditions. All-wheel drive is only standard on the top Sport Touring Hybrid trim of the CR-V and is available for the other trims.

Horsepower

The Honda CR-V’s gas model produces 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque, with the hybrid version generating a combined 204 horsepower. The Subaru Forester delivers 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. While the CR-V holds a slight power advantage, both vehicles provide sufficient power for confident highway merging and passing maneuvers.

Towing Capacity

The 2025 Subaru Forester stands out with a maximum towing capacity of 3,000 pounds, double that of the Honda CR-V’s 1,500-pound rating. This significant difference makes the Forester a more capable choice if you regularly tow small trailers, boats, or camping equipment.

Fuel Efficiency

The Honda CR-V maintains a slight edge in fuel economy with 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. The Subaru Forester’s fuel efficiency ratings of 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway remain competitive, with the difference amounting to minimal real-world impact on fuel costs for most drivers. Both vehicles would be an economical choice for your daily transportation around Fort Worth.

Cargo and Passenger space

Both SUVs offer spacious cabins and a generous cargo capacity. Whether you’re running errands in Fort Worth or going on a road trip, you’ll be able to travel in comfort while hauling all the gear you need.

Cargo Capacity

The Honda CR-V has a maximum cargo space of 76.5 cubic feet, with seats folded slightly to edge out the Forester’s 74.4 cubic feet. Both vehicles offer flat load floors and wide cargo openings, making them practical choices for hauling larger items or accommodating weekly shopping trips.

Passenger Space

The Subaru Forester’s spacious cabin provides up to 110.8 cubic feet of passenger space, beating the CR-V’s 106 cubic feet. The Subaru Forester’s taller height of 68.1 inches compared to the CR-V’s 66.2 inches contributes to better headroom for passengers. The Honda CR-V features a longer wheelbase at 106.3 inches versus Forester’s 105.1 inches, with overall lengths of 184.8 and 183.3 inches, respectively. These dimensions result in comfortable accommodation for both front and rear passengers in either vehicle.

Infotainment and Safety Features

The 2025 Subaru Forester comes standard with a dual 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system. Higher trims feature an 11.6-inch touchscreen. An 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system is available on higher trims and comes standard on the top-of-the-line Touring trim. The CR-V comes with a standard 7-inch color touchscreen and offers an optional 9-inch display on higher trim levels. If you opt for the top Sport Touring Hybrid trim, you get premium features such as a 12-speaker BOSE premium sound system with subwoofer and the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Bilingual Voice Recognition. Safety ratings are equally impressive for both models. Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t rated the 2025 Subaru Forester yet, the 2024 model earned a five-star overall rating, five-star ratings in frontal crash and side impact tests, and a four-star rollover rating. The NHTSA gave the 2025 Honda CR-V a five-star overall and side crash rating and a four-star frontal crash and rollover rating. The Subaru Forester has EyeSight Driver-Assist Technology as standard on all trims and features advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering, pre-collision braking, lane departure and sway warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. The CR-V features the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistive features, including a lane-keeping assist system, forward collision warning, and a collision mitigation braking system. These advanced safety systems reflect both automakers’ strong commitment to passenger protection.

Honda CR-V vs. Subaru Forester: Car Comparison Ratings and Reliability Scores

In U.S. News & World Report’s car ratings comparison, the Honda CR-V ranked as #3 in the compact SUV segment with an impressive overall score of 8.9/10. The Honda CR-V earned impressive scores across multiple categories, including a Critics’ Rating of 8.2/10, a Performance Score of 6.6/10, and an Interior Score of 8.2/10. The Subaru Forester ranked #10 with a solid 8.6/10 overall score. The Subaru Forester received comparable scores to the CR-V, with a Critics’ Rating of 8/10, a Performance Score of 6.3/10, and an Interior Score of 7.9/10. So, which is more reliable, the Honda CR-V or the Subaru Forester? Both vehicles maintain strong reliability ratings, with the CR-V scoring 84/100 and the Forester scoring 83/100.

Available Trim Levels

The 2025 Honda CR-V offers six trim levels: the LX, EX, Sport Hybrid, EX-L, Sport-L Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid. MSRPs range from $30,100 for the LX to $41,100 for the top-of-the-line Sport Touring Hybrid. The 2025 Subaru Forester offers five trims: the Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring. MSRPs vary from $29,810 for the Base trim to $39,995 for the Touring, making it an attractive value proposition in the segment.

Test-Drive a Subaru Forester Today at Hiley Subaru of Fort Worth

Comparing these two excellent compact SUVs, it’s clear that both have their strengths. However, the 2025 Subaru Forester stands out with its standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, superior towing capacity, and competitive pricing. Combined with its 8.6/10 rating from U.S. News & World Report, the Forester represents an excellent choice in the compact SUV segment. We encourage you to experience the 2025 Subaru Forester’s unique features and capabilities firsthand to truly appreciate them. Schedule a test drive at our Hiley Subaru of Fort Worth dealership today and discover why the Forester might be the perfect SUV for your needs.